How things change. Touting a turbo-diesel as a halo hot-hatch a decade ago would have been unthinkable but Mazda has done just this with the new Mazda3 XD Astina, planting the flag on the latest Everest for oil burners.
This Mazda3 sets out to combine performance with fuel efficiency, with the new 2.2-litre SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, mated with either a six-speed SkyActiv manual or a six-speed SkyActiv automatic transmission, the auto diesel being a first-time offering on a Mazda3.
The new turbo-diesel shows an improvement of up to 12 per cent in fuel efficiency over the previous engine. Engine stop-start technology and Mazda’s brake energy regeneration are partly responsible for this advance.
The engine, which puts out 129 kW of power and 420 Nm of torque makes use of a two-stage turbocharger – one small, one large. The small blower operates at low engine speeds, and alternates with the large turbo at mid-range speeds to maintain optimum boost.
At higher speeds the large unit takes over to supply boost to the greater mass of air the system must handle. Optimum oxygen is thus applied at combustion. This, coupled with a low compression ration minimises exhaust emissions, while maintaining performance and fuel economy.
SkyActive-Drive is a computer link between engine and transmission controlling engine torque in a way that balances smooth, quick gear changes with minimal shift lock.
A further boost to fuel economy is supplied by i-stop which automatically cuts out the engine after the vehicle comes to a stop. When the brake is released, fuel is injected into the cylinder to quickly restart the engine.
Gear ratios have been fashioned to manage the heft of torque on tap at a low 2000 rpm, plus peak power at 4500 revs, resulting in snappy going off the mark, effortless overtaking and unfettered cruising at highway speeds.
This was borne out by a responsive yet relaxed performance on typical Tasmanian terrain, something welcomed on launch after a meagre three hours sleep the previous night due to air travel disruptions.
Mazda claims the XD is capable of getting down to diesel consumption of 5 litres per 100 kilometres on the combined urban / highway cycle, that’s around what many petrol-electric hybrid vehicles manage.
Manual and automatic versions of vehicles came within a cat’s lick of one another, using 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres (manual) and 7.7 (auto). These numbers are more than fifty per cent over the official numbers, a hefty increase although the test drive program during the media launch did include some hard driving on damp and dry country roads.
The car sat low and steady on the road despite being put through some rapid and harsh manoeuvres, reacting to steering input with aplomb. Indeed, throughout the run, the XD Astina exhibited exemplary ride and handling characteristics, with tyre noise one of the few intrusions into a calm cabin ambience.
Offered in hatchback form only, the new XD Astina carries the same extensive list of equipment as the petrol-powered SP25 Astina, with the newbie set apart by 18-inch alloy wheels, LED fog-lamps, black painted lower rear bumper, red accent around the front grille and black leather seats with suede trim.
In addition to a full complement of safety features including airbags, reversing camera, Dynamic Stability Control, Anti-lock Braking and Electronic Brake force Distribution, the XD Astina is also fitted with the full suite of technologies including Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, High Beam Control, Lane Departure Warning, Radar Cruise Control, Smart Brake Support, Forward Obstruction Warning and Smart City Brake Support.
The present Mazda3 introduces head-up windscreen display to the company’s product for the first time. This projects driving information onto the windscreen directly in front of the driver. The focal point is about 1.5 metres in front of the driver’s eye point and requires minimal eye movement to focus.
Info displayed includes vehicle speed, automatic cruise control speed settings, navigation turn-by-turn, plus various safety alerts among other things.
Also aboard a Mazda3 for the first time is commander control, which offers the driver complete control over vehicle systems with minimum distraction via a knob and cluster of switches on the centre console linked to the 7-inch display screen on the central dashboard.
Operation requires minimum hand and eye movement from the driving position and many of the functions also come with voice control.
The Mazda3 XD Atsina is priced from $40,230, a hefty $4000 premium over its petrol-powered counterpart, the SP25 Astina 2.5, which could cause some resistance from potential buyers. Time will tell.
MODEL LINE-UP
Mazda3 XD Astina 2.2-litre turbo-diesel five-door hatch: $40,230 (manual), $42,230 (automatic)
Note: These prices do not include dealer or government charges. Contact your local Mazda dealer for drive-away prices.
